Tag Archives: gifts

Mother’s Day! It’s this Sunday! What to get Mom, what to get Mom, think think think… Flowers, duh, but they’re kind of a yawn, right? Sort of unthoughtfully thoughtful. Unless of course, you order her an amazingly dynamic bouquet from Flower Girl NYC. Since 2004, Flower Girl NYC has been putting together fantastic and whimsical arrangements for New Yorkers in the know. There’s a great business backstory here, too: founder and owner Denise Porcaro was a Production Designer for feature films, but discovered a creative outlet in fresh flowers. She started out crafting personalized arrangements and bouquets for a select group of clients and friends but over time, demand for her unique style grew through word-of-mouth praise and Flower Girl NYC sprouted from there.These aren’t your Granny’s old begonias and baby’s breath, either! They focus on what is available seasonally, along with custom designs that feature wildflowers, seasonal branches, unusual vases, beautiful plants, as well as handmade candles and soaps. And the finished product is refined, tasteful, lovely and totally uncommon. Coincidentally, all qualities we should remember to tell Ma she is on Mother’s Day.

We earn our living selling New York City. The next day is never like the last. The last is never ordinary. We witness all sorts. We listen to the City’s noise. We devour its phenomenal food. On the Real is our documentary. It is your pack of unfiltered New York 100s.

And now for the Doomsday Prepper on your list…The Wise Company Emergency Food Supply. One (or 36) of these sealed four gallon white buckets contains 60 bags of just-add-boiling-water meals in ‘em. You get eight servings each of Savory Stroganoff, Chili Macaroni, Pasta Alfredo, Creamy Pasta and Vegetable Rotini, Teriyaki and Rice,Creamy Ala King and Rice, Creamy Tomato and Basil and four servings of Cheesy Lasagna. Though these little foil bags of freeze dried nutrition are clearly not for the lactose-intolerant, they are 100% vegetarian (except for these) and they have a shelf life of 25 years. 25 years?!? Too bad you can’t stock up on an arsenal of Twinkies for dessert.

We earn our living selling New York City. The next day is never like the last. The last is never ordinary. We witness all sorts. We listen to the City’s noise. We devour its phenomenal food. On the Real is our documentary. It is your pack of unfiltered New York 100s.

Food or drink subscription packages always make solid presents. I really can’t imagine there’s anyone out there who is bummed out to discover they’ve been gifted a wine or cheese of the month club. And if you’re looking for a tasty variation off the beaten path, then check out the Pickles-Every-Month Club that my wife Courtney found offered on the fantastic indie food site, New York Mouth.Before you think, “Pickles, you say! Only a pregnant lady would want a year long supply” you must understand that these aren’t just your garden variety wonder bread n’ butter cukes. We’re talking about any number of locally sourced crunchy vinegary veggies, from pickled beets to pickled fennel to pickled carrots to pickled cauliflower and on and on. Each and every month, you’ll get three surprise jars of pickles from New York’s finest and undoubtedly bearded local pickle artisans. With the Pickle-Every-Month Club you can help your loved ones revel in being sour not just for the holidays, but the whole year long.

We earn our living selling New York City. The next day is never like the last. The last is never ordinary. We witness all sorts. We listen to the City’s noise. We devour its phenomenal food. On the Real is our documentary. It is your pack of unfiltered New York 100s.

If you happen to live downtown and didn’t escape to Uptown, Upstate or your buddy’s new townhouse in Fort Greene, you are fully aware that Halloween was a complete wash…especially if you live in a flood zone. Normally, Halloween = shitloads of candy, so you missed out this year whether you’re a kid or just a die-hard sweets monger. No missing out any more! This year, Christmas + Hanukkah + every other holiday celebrated right around now = the previously referred to…shitloads of candy. That’s it!Your only stop to procure said shitloads is Economy Candy on Rivington Street. This place has everything from Charleston Chews to 12-packs of Pop Rocks. Bottle Caps to Astro Pops. You can buy M&M’s, gum balls, Jelly Bellies and rock candy by the pound or your favorite chocolate by the slab. Even if you hate candy, you have to check this place out. There is nothing else like it. Economy Candy is a true Lower East Side institution.

We earn our living selling New York City. The next day is never like the last. The last is never ordinary. We witness all sorts. We listen to the City’s noise. We devour its phenomenal food. On the Real is our documentary. It is your pack of unfiltered New York 100s.

I’m a terrible sock buyer. I’m the guy who would prefer to just hit Kmart every few months for eight packs of classic white tubes. First problem is when you have to take off your shoes because this evening’s holiday party host is a germaphobe, you kind look like a schlub in those things. Second problem is when you get home, your wife thinks the same thing.Here’s your Smelly Ugly Sock Rectification Solution. The Sock Hop on Elizabeth Street. The Nasserbakht brothers curate this amazing collection focusing on real craftmanship from heel to toe. The socks are carefully organized by gender, color and pattern. You can go completely conservative or wildly not. The Sock Hop also has a custom shirt maker on site. Measurements are taken and your pattern is cut and stored right there in the shop. You can go in at any time, choose whichever fabric is working for you in that particular season and have your completely custom shirt draped over your shoulders in about a week. We love how these brothers are keeping it old school in one of the country’s most historic neighborhoods. Whether your profession requires you to dress for work each day or you simply fancy good, old-fashioned bespoke dandy-ness, at The Sock Hop you’ll be sure to find a way to communicate your inner extrovert. By way of sock, or by way of shirt.

We earn our living selling New York City. The next day is never like the last. The last is never ordinary. We witness all sorts. We listen to the City’s noise. We devour its phenomenal food. On the Real is our documentary. It is your pack of unfiltered New York 100s.

For your lady or the little ones, go to Pink Olive in either Park Slope or the East Village. They have a fantastic mixture of cards, books, bags, art, jewelry, stuffed animals, kid’s clothes, candles and soaps. It’s the perfect one-stop-shop for smaller, more thoughtful gifts with a lovable sense of humor.I really like the “Anatomy of Love” print, but the vast selection of Jellycat stuffed animals have put so many smiles on and wiped so many tears off my three-year-old’s sweet face that I just have to shout out a huge “THANK YOU” to the good citizens that run sweet Pink Olive.

We earn our living selling New York City. The next day is never like the last. The last is never ordinary. We witness all sorts. We listen to the City’s noise. We devour its phenomenal food. On the Real is our documentary. It is your pack of unfiltered New York 100s.

We earn our living selling New York City. The next day is never like the last. The last is never ordinary. We witness all sorts. We listen to the City’s noise. We devour its phenomenal food. On the Real is our
documentary. It is your pack of unfiltered New York 100s.